2000 BMW M5 Reviews

Summary:

It's an M5, what else needs to be said?

Faults:

Clutch went after 3 days of ownership, although the flywheel is fine and has been re-surfaced and polished. Previous owner failed to say it was on its way out, but after a long phone call, he decided to pay half, so not all bad.

Apart from that, the car has been fine; as long as you keep on top of maintenance, you'll be okay.

Not the sort of car to let jobs pile up on.

Doesn't require an oil service for another 11,000 miles, so hopefully I can put some money aside for a rainy day.

General Comments:

I've recently acquired my dream car since I realised what a car was.. The BMW M5!

It's taken me a few years to save, but it's worth it. My car has low mileage and fully stamped BMW service history, which is essential if you want a good price when you come to selling.

These cars from new depreciate quite badly, consider this was a £72k car when new, and I got mine for £8k, at just over 10 years old. The car hasn't been out of warranty long either.

The car's general condition is astonishing. The Black nappa leather interior with grey leather inserts are hardly worn, and the back seats look hardly used, which is good considering it's a family saloon. Brushed aluminium trim and smooth black dash go well together, white dials for the speed info and black suede headlining make the car feel like a mafia saloon, like that of a Lotus Carlton, but more refined.

Paintwork's great too; any black car requires careful maintenance and body conditioner when washing, due to how easy scratches and marks can show, however the carbon black isn't no ordinary black, its Black in the dark, Navy blue in the sun, and dark purple in other shades. When polished, the car's stunning to look at.

The wheels are lovely too, not over the top or too bling for car thieves, just subtle and wide for the cars stance. Mine are gun metal with no marks or scuffs. I also have polished ceramic discs, so they sit lovely behind the wheels.

Practicality can't be faulted, enough boot space to accompany 4 suite cases or 3 sets of golf clubs or a week's shopping, it's a car for many drivers, not to mention that smooth torquey V8 that can propel 4 adults all the way to 187mph comfortably!

Now then, performance.. The M5 is about the best you get from BMW. Top marques such as 911 turbos, DB9s, Ferraris and Maseratis hate M5s because they're half the price, and most the time can more than take on these cars with ease. Many a time iv came up against the odd 911 turbo and gone for it, and came out the winner. My cars been remapped, decat and x pipe and twin induction kits, so my car's pushing about 485bhp over the standard 400Bhp.

Performance figures are astonishing, and still today can easily keep up with the new M5 or M6, due to less weight and a very reliable sustaining engine.

0-60 4.1 seconds (4.8secs book spec but can be achieved)

0-100 10.8 seconds (11.2 book spec but can be achieved)

Obviously my figures are substantially better due to modifications.

Easy to believe it was the fastest production car when released.

The car handles beautifully, similar to a B5 RS4 or a Evo 5 onwards; very nimble and light, considering the car's quite heavy. Genius really.

Understeer is a problem, but if you learn how to drive these cars properly, it shouldn't be a problem.

Now running costs are the main disadvantage, but you don't buy these cars for running costs, it's how they make you feel when you drive them.

Fuel is poor, but again it's a 5.0 V8 32v twin vanos race engine, not a 1.9TDI.

Service costs however are reasonable, a clutch with labour is £897.36 (just had mine done at Sytner Solihull) and comes with 2 year full parts and labour warranty and a stamp :)

Inspection 1 is £414, inspection 2 is £697, and an oil inspection is £153.

My Supra turbo manual 6 speed I had before this car cost more than this to service.

Only draw back on these cars was the clutch and flywheel. A clutch won't last 10,000 miles if driven hard (which the car likes) and the flywheel about 20,000.

If you baby the car and drive like miss daisy, then they'll last longer, but then why buy a M5?

There are however aftermarket clutch and flywheels you can buy eg. the standard clutch and flywheel is about 9.5 inches, and the plates can't take the power.

www.CA-AT.co.uk are a BMW tuning company, they offer a 10.5 inch carbon plated clutch with the SAC removed and dual mass lightweight flywheel for little over £1800 plus vat, which isn't far over a BMW clutch and flywheel, and it's designed for drag racing, gumball rallys and track racing, so will last a long time.

Also performance gains and faster revs through the range can easily be expected.

Well then I hope you all enjoy my review, every car enthusiast should own an M5 at least once in their life, to experience what the car gods offer.

2000 BMW M5 5.0 from North America

Summary:

A vault-solid, luxury motor car that breaks the tires clean loose in any of the first three gears

Faults:

We have had no maintenance issues with the car to date. The pixel display on dash missing some pixels at time of purchase and this has not been fixed.

General Comments:

I have owned a 91 300Z, a 92 Eclipse GSX AWD turbo, a 93 Taurus SHO, and a 04 RX8. The 2000 M5 makes them all look ridiculous. Amazing speed combined with such smooth, quiet, cruising ability is amazing. A pleasure to drive hard, a pleasure to drive easy. Isn't as tossable as the RX8, but weighs more, has 200 more HP with my Dinan mods, and gets better mpg... all while being far more comfortable and quiet.

Very comfortable interior with many useful features... although GPS is not user friendly... good thing it doesn't matter to me.

Structure seems bank vault solid despite 70K miles, and low 20's sale price would seem like a ridiculous bargain. My first BMW, but my guess is I will not buy anything else in the future... no worries about a depreciated used model. My wife now wants one, too.

26th Jan 2009, 02:38

I test drove one these expecting an amazing car (based on endless, rave reviews) but was quickly disappointed. Engine and shifter vibration was unacceptable. 1st gear was too short (salesman who owns E39 540i actually suggested starting in 2nd...like he does). Weighs 4000lbs but feels like 6000. And heavy understeer.

Then I looked at a W210 E55 which was better in every way... except for no manual. Maybe living with the M5 you get used to these shortcomings, but for now I'll keep looking.

30th Dec 2011, 12:38

Apologies, but your comments are entirely invalid. You test drove ONE M5 and assumed they all have vibrations such as you claim. First gear's always short on a 6 speed manual, so obviously you are unaware. The M5 is the most versatile king of the road available, and an absolute super car. You missed the chance of a lifetime to drive the best car in the world. Period.